UNESCO Launches the World Water Development Report 2017 on World Water Day Commemoration

The World Water Day (WWD) is held annually on 22nd March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.In Nigeria the commemoration of the 2017 WWD with the theme “Water and Wastewater”, was hosted by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR)with active participation of relevant stakeholders including UNESCO Abuja Regional Office in Abuja, Academia, STI based research organizations, relevant MDAs, and the press”.

Part of the activities for this year was the Awareness Walk organised by FMWR. This was held on the 21st of March throughsome major zones/areas of the Federal Capital Territory. The event of the 22nd March, witnessed goodwill messages from key stakeholders, address by the management of FMWR and drama presentation. The goodwill message of the UNESCO Director General, Ms Irina Bokova was delivered by the Regional Science Advisor, Mr. Simone Grego.

The High point of the event was the presentation of the United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR), by the Director General of Nigerian Hydrological Agency and Secretary Nigerian National Committee for UNESCO-IHP. WWDR is the UN’s flagship report on water, published each year with
a focus on different strategic water issues and the 2017 WWDR title is ‘Wastewater: the untapped resource’.

The report highlights the rise in water demand and concomitant increase in wastewater generation, which degrade water quality. The report also presents sets of sustainable and affordable options for improved wastewater management, which has benefits in terms of human health, socioeconomic
development and environmental sustainability and is essential for achieving the 2030 Agenda. After the WWDR presentation, the report was launched and copies were presented by the Regional Science Advisor Mr. Simone Grego to the Honourable Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamou, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Rabi Jimet and the Chairman of Nigeria Senate Committee on Water Resources. The event had almost 500 participants in attendance.